— Posted by Karen Knapstein

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Collect.com Auctions is expanding its reach across the collecting spectrum by offering 487 lots including the largest known collection of metal mesh handbags and vintage fashion. CLICK HERE to download the free special eight-page catalog for the sale, composed primarily of the Dennis and Terri LaMothe Collection, a three-decade pursuit for Whiting and Davis and Mandalian Mfg. Co. metal mesh handbags and fashion, plus additions of fine jewelry. The online, absentee and telephone auction opens Nov. 23 and closes Dec. 12 on www.collect.com/auctions.

It’s rare when husband and wife come together with a shared passion for collecting, yet the LaMothes’ union produced two of the 20th century’s top collectors of metal mesh used in fashion. The auction is comprised of four different categories: antique mesh, vintage fashion, jewelry and the LaMothes’ collection of Department 56 collectibles.

Standout lots include a series of handbags depicting Hollywood icons Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and Mickey Mouse as well as celebrity memorabilia from Cher and Lisa Hartman-Black.

Included are a number of rare scenic handbags depicting a range of Art Deco-inspired themes such as skyscrapers, peacocks, sunrises and meadow scenes. Once a design was chosen it naturally narrowed the market for the handbag. As such, the design and style had to be of the finest quality and feature dynamic designs. “It took 24 hours for each color to dry once it was applied,” Terri said of the different colored enamels used in the designs. “Once they were complete the stencils were destroyed so they really are living history.”

Also in the selection of handbags are 70 lots of rare specimens made by the Mandalian Manufacturing Company. Mandalian-made handbags are highly sought after by collectors because of the company’s eclectic designs and strict production methods. “They used crushed fish scale and applied it to the mesh to give it the shine,” Terri said. “They made a better bag but they couldn’t go up against Whiting and Davis.”

Rounding out the metal mesh collection is a selection of vintage fashion designer Anthony Ferrara made specifically for the Whiting and Davis line.

Among the fine jewelry is a white gold bracelet adorned with 72.23 carats of rubies and a pair of earrings with an impressive 8.7 carats of sapphires accented with diamonds.

Collect.com Auctions’ first vintage fashion sale welcomes mail, phone, absentee and online bids through Collect.com. Bidding opens Nov. 23 and closes Dec. 12. Complete descriptions and images for all lots can be found at www.collect.com.

For information on any lot or to learn more about bidding in this sale, call the Collect.com offices at 888-463-3063.

Photos courtesy Dennis & Terri LaMothe.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE CATALOG (PDF)

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• Listen as Kaufman, the man who devoted his life to celebrating the joy of play, discusses amassing his 60-year collection with Sally and why he decided to sell every single item in his collection - including his very first toy.
  
  
• Read a profile of Kaufman’s lifelong pursuit of a complete collection
  
  
• Review important auction coverage from the first two sessions of the Donald Kaufman Collection auctions.
  

"Once a popular prize found in oatmeal boxes, and used by movie houses and gas stations as a free gift with purchase, the history of Depression glass is as diverse as the pieces themselves. Learn the history behind the companies, commonly reproduced patterns and why the hobby of Depression Glass collecting is getting bigger every year."

— posted by Eric Bradley

From Sept. 30, 2009 issue of Antique Trader magazine

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"What are some of the most strange and unusual antiques or collectibles you’ve ever seen people collect?"

“The resources have already been used to make (antique pieces),” said Deborah Candlish customer service representative at Roseville’s (Calif.) Antique Trove. “So you’re really being ‘green’ and saving resources when you shop antiques.”

According to a Carbon Footprint Analysis by Carbon Footprint Ltd. it takes 1,000 times more Carbon Dioxide to manufacture a new piece of furniture as opposed to reusing an older piece.

“Why would I buy something new when I can get the same look and reduce my impact,” said shopper Mindy Kruse of Lincoln, Calif.

What do you think our trade can do to better promote antiques to younger collectors seeking ways to reduce, reuse and recycle?

IOWA AUCTIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
H. JAMES “JIM” JACKSON PASSES AWAY AT AGE 78

CEDAR FALLS, IA.- H. James “Jim” Jackson, founder of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers of Antiques and Fine Art passed away on August 9, 2009, after a two year battle with cancer, he was 78.

Locally, Jim Jackson was known by the many different hats he wore; teacher, elementary school principal, civic and church volunteer, antique appraiser, lecturer and auctioneer. However, regardless of how one knew him, all remember his infectious and sincere smile; his wealth of freely shared knowledge and his ardent desire to assist everyone and anyone who needed help in anyway. Wisconsin antique dealer and ISA appraiser Karen Halboth, a longtime Jackson acquaintance was quick to share, “I learned a lifetime of information about antiques and life in general from Jim simply by attending his auctions. He was one of those rare individuals who shared his knowledge freely and would always make time to assist in identifying an item or lend a hand. His generosity was only surpassed by his honesty.” 

A native Iowan, Jim was born on his parent’s farm near Bagley, Iowa in December of 1930. His interest in antiques was fostered by his grandmother and parents, with whom he began attending country auctions at the age of five, way back in 1935.  Jim received his B.A. in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1952. After four years of teaching, Jim and his family moved to Southern Germany (Augsburg) where he taught school for five years. Jim took advantage of the cultural opportunities available and traveled extensively on the continent while at the same time developing a fluency in the German language. 

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1962, Jim entered the graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, where he earned his M.A. in Educational Administration and at the same time began collecting vintage American toys. His love of teaching combined with his love of history and antiques soon found him on the Midwest lecture circuit presenting programs to a variety of cultural and civic organizations on the topic of antiques and collecting. With the arrival of summer and with school administrator duties temporarily set aside, Jim began trading in antiques to supplement his “educator’s” income. Soon his knowledge of antiques and his honest reputation caught the attention of local law firms and Trust Departments who sought Jim out to produce personal property appraisals primarily for probated estates. This then lead to fiduciaries asking Jim to help sell such merchandise to which Jim did by holding small local on-site estate auctions beginning in 1969. Thus was the foundation laid for what would eventually become Jackson’s International.

Although it was really never his intent, Jim’s honest and results-oriented business blossomed into a small and growing enterprise providing ample work throughout the year and eventually requiring the need of full-time employees and later on a facility.
“I really never intended or better yet envisioned it would get as big as we did, it just sort of happened,” said Jackson in a 1999 interview. By 1980 Jim and his staff (then known simply as Jackson Auction Company) conducted an average of about 40 auctions yearly, mostly consisting of smaller on-site estate auctions. And later on and with the addition of a rented facility, consignment auctions combined with on-site auctions filled the calendar. In 1993, two years prior to retiring from a 35-year career as an elementary school principal, Jackson sold the company to his son James L. Jackson, who left the vice presidency of a large advertising agency and reentered the auction world where he had worked for many years while growing up. Son James quickly expanded the facility and repositioned the company with a regional/national focus on higher end fine art and antiques now with peak annual sales approaching the ten million dollar mark.
In a 2006 interview celebrating the firm’s 35 years of business Jim Jackson Sr. reflected, “I am amazed at how the company grew. I am also amazed at the outstanding world class roster of employees.  It is no wonder they receive so many compliments and so many wonderful referrals.”  He continued, “To be certain I was never the consummate marketer and businessman my son is, he’s the real genius, rather my real joy came from simply being able to share a bit of obscure information about an old apple peeler or the like to a fledgling collector or dealer as I was up on the block selling - I guess that’s the teacher in me.” 
Jim was a recognized leader in both the areas of antiques, auctioneering and elementary education with an emphasis on the needs of the handicapped, and he wrote and lectured extensively on both subjects. Former teacher Dr. Susan K. Sheerwood, Professor of Education at Wartburg College, Waverly Iowa said on the passing of Jim Jackson, “He was by far the most influential person in my life – the personification of both a master educator and  true gentleman. His likes will never be seen again.”

Outside the world of antiques and auctions Jim was known as a passionate advocate for the poor, marginalized, underprivileged and the handicap.  He was particularly interested in the rights and full participation of all children and adults with social, economic, intellectual and physical disabilities. To this end in the mid 1960’s Jim served as Chairman of the Black Hawk County Community Action Council, an anti poverty organization. He was also a member of ARC- Association for Retarded Citizens, and in 1990 received the Friend Of award from the Iowa TASH – The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps. Jim also served as a member of the Iowa Department of Educational Assistance Team for Integration.  Jim was past Chairman of the Iowa Association of Elementary School Principals, and past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, past Board of Directors member of Head Start and member of the Junior League Advisory Board. In 1965, Jim received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Civitan Club and in 1990 was named Iowa Reading Association Administrator of the Year by the Iowa Association of Elementary Educators. He was a member in good standing in a vast multitude of organizations including the National Auctioneers Association, the International Society of Appraisers, and the Appraisers Association of America to name a few. He was also an active 45 year member of Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Falls where he served in many different capacities over the past four decades. He is survived by his wife Joan of 57 years, four children and thirteen grandchildren.

President and CEO of Jackson’s International, James L. Jackson reflecting upon his father’s legacy said, “For anyone who really knew my father, they know that his real legacy in life rests not in antiques, or auctioneering or even education per-se, but rather his is a legacy of love, especially for the marginalized.  More than anything else my father felt a profound connection with the down and out, something that was fostered by his very deep and personal faith life which he was blessed in having a partner for 57 years who shared an equal passion and love of God.”

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

Collectors, consignors and the curious alike can now get the inside scoop on hot lots coming down the pipe at Heritage Auction Galleries, along with insight, interviews and commentary from Heritage Auction Galleries staff at the company’s recently launched blog at www.HeritageAuctions.Blogspot.com. Posts are added each weekday.
 
With three full months under its belt, the blog has already proven a hotspot for a wide cross-sampling of the Heritage audience. Principal writing duties for the blog are held down by staff writer Noah Fleisher, who joined the company in September of 2008.
 
Noah made a name for himself in the antiques and collectibles market as a writer and an editor for a variety of publications, including Antique Trader, New England Antiques Journal and Northeast Journal of Antiques and Art. He has written several articles for digital publication Style Century Magazine, and also penned the Style Century blog, StyleWire, from May 2008 to January 2009. Noah is also the author of the forthcoming Warman’s Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide to Mid-Century Modern Furniture, due out this summer.
 
“Heritage is an amazing place to work, with so much great stuff coming in and out on a regular basis that no one could possibly take in the total history and value that the company represents,” he said. “With my past as a writer and an editor I can’t help but want to explore the things going on here. In my work as the staff copywriter I also have access to all 26 departments in the company, the people who work in them and the singular items that routinely come up for auction. It’s a natural fit.”
 
The blog also features regular Coin Monday posts from numismatic cataloger John Dale Beety, a young numismatist of note with a flair for making the often mystifying world of coin collecting accessible and interesting to any collector. Other Heritage employees have been enlisted and will be contributing from time to time as the rare and valuable collectibles that cross their desks call for.
 
"The response has been great," said Fleisher. "Heritage has insisted that the voice of the blog be independent, which is a great thing to hear as a writer. That lets us choose our subjects and write about them freely. At heart we're just collectors talking about things that we'd love to have."
 
The blog is updated daily. Recent postings have covered the sale of an exceedingly rare 1932 Freaks movie poster, the consignment of the Charles Martignette Estate – the finest collection of illustration art to ever reach the market, a trove of rare sporting memorabilia related to legend/pariah “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, a mid-nineteenth century gold ingot coming up for auction in April, a copy of a very rare Showcase#4 comic, the book that started comics’ Silver Age, and much more.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

Here's a peek at the cover:

As you can see, this week we have features on farm collectibles and vintage lighters. And, we have a bonus feature on Zippo lighters!

Click on the magazine cover to go to www.antiquetrader.com and read these great antiques and collectibles features and much, much more.